Care leavers under the age of 25, who meet the legal definition, are also entitled to financial support from their local authority during their time at university.

Imperial Bursary

Imperial Bursaries are awarded for each year of study and are on a sliding scale based on household income, so students from a care background are usually entitled to the maximum amount of financial support.

The award may vary from year to year, so please check for your year of entry. It does not need to be repaid.

Imperial Bursaries are based on household income assessments carried out by relevant government funding bodies i.e. Student Finance England, Student Finance Northern Ireland, Student Awards Agency for Scotland and Student Finance Wales. This is why only Home students who have applied for government funding are eligible for the scheme.

Student Support Fund

If you suddenly find yourself in financial difficulties or experience an unexpected change in circumstances, you may be eligible to apply for emergency financial help through the Student Support Fund.

The Fund offers a one-off payment to cover such emergencies as last minute accommodation and travel necessities, equipment and childcare. It does not have to be repaid.

Some care leaver charities also offer financial support to eligible applicants, please see Useful Links for some possible sources of support.

If you have a query about finance or financial support, please contact the Finance Team for more information.

Academic and pastoral support

If you find yourself in difficult circumstances or needing support, your first point of contact is your Personal Tutor, who can arrange a one-to-one meeting to discuss your needs.

The Senior Tutor in your department has overall responsibility for overseeing the pastoral and academic provision for Undergraduate students, and is also available to give you support.

The College Tutors are independent of your academic department, and can provide confidential support regarding both academic and pastoral issues.

The Student Union offers an independent advice centre, which not only supports current students but also provides support for students who hold a confirmed offer.